John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water…… (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:6 NIV).

My life was good. I had a great husband, two beautiful children, a home of our own, and no huge problems. Why did I feel as though my world was colored in shades of gray? I didn’t know, but I tried to keep plugging along.

Then one ordinary day, I went to the grocery store alone and looked at a display of inspirational books. One title caught my eye, “From Prison to Praise” by Merlin Carothers. It resonated with me so I bought the book and took it home.

I was soon spellbound as I read about how the baptism in the Holy Spirit had changed the author’s life. A friend had asked me once, “Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit?” I had replied, “I’m sure I have. I’ve been a Christian since I was nine years old.” Now I was not so sure.

Finally, one night, battling my pride, I said, “God, if I don’t have what this man has, I want it!” Seemingly nothing supernatural happened, but my life was forever changed. Jesus became more precious and more real, and I couldn’t get enough of His Word. He began speaking to me more clearly than ever before. My “prison,” which I had not even been able to define, had been changed into songs of praise.

Precious Jesus, thank you for baptizing with the Holy Spirit and with fire to transform our prisons into praise. Amen.

(Devotional from Homespun Faith, Reflections from the Seasons of Life, copyright 2014 Daisy Beiler Townsend. Available as paperback or ebook: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Xulon Press. Locally at Fresh Grounds, M & M Grocery, Leanna’s Books, Penn Alps in Grantsville, Maryland, or from me 724-373-8445 or donaisy@neo.rr.com.)